Piravom: Teachers excluded from poll duties

KOCHI: State Chief Electoral Officer Nalini Netto on Tuesday issued directions to exclude women and teachers from the Piravom bypoll duties.The decision in this regard was taken in view of various annual examinations including the SSLC exam. The Chief Electoral Officer also said that only those officials who are not the voters of Piravom should be assigned election duties.This will help in avoiding postal votes, she said, while speaking at a conference attended by Ernakulam District Collector P I Sheik Pareeth and other election officials.A decision was also taken to find immediate solution to complaints regarding the voters-list. The final list is expected to be published by February 29.Directions issued by the Election Commission in connection with the nomination of candidates should be strictly followed, she said. Nalini Netto also issued directions to start the operations of the Election Call Centre and the Control Room.Election Deputy Collector S Shanawas, former Election Deputy Collector K N Raji, Electoral Registration Officer Moovattupuzha Tahsildar Swarnamma, Retuning Officer E R Sobhana and Deputy Returning Officer M Aravindakshan Nair also attended the video conference.S Shanawas took charge as Election Deputy Collector as K N Raji, who was handling the charge became the Fort Kochi RDO.Bypoll was announced in Piravom following the death of sitting MLA and Civil Supplies Minister T M Jacob of the Kerala Congress (Jacob) about a couple of months back.